Bird conservation news

Ray of Hope in Adriatic Crime Scene

Hutovo Blato Nature Park in Bosnia-Herzegovina is actually one of the epicentres of bird hunting on the Balkans. But now there’s reason for hope that the region will see a lasting improvement of the situation for migratory birds.

Flying a flag for the turtle dove

Recently the prime minister of Serbia evoked a wave of indignation throughout Europe. In parliament he stated that in order to bring money into the public purse Serbia should give permission to Italian hunters to shoot the turtle dove. Nature conservation NGO Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (BPSSS) initiated a protest campaign that is also supported by EuroNatur.

Best-selling US author Jonathan Franzen to receive EuroNatur Award 2015

Jonathan Franzen is a passionate bird-watcher and a great champion of bird protection in Europe. On the 14th October EuroNatur Foundation is honouring him with the EuroNatur Award 2015.

Stork habitat under threat in Europe

The 12th conference of European Stork Villages was held in Cigoc in the district of Sisak in Croatia from 25–27 June 2015. Well over 50 representatives took up the invitation from the European Stork Village of Cigoc.

Another successful breeding season on Lake Skadar

Good news again from the Dalmatian pelicans’ breeding grounds on Lake Skadar: during their last monitoring tour in April, National Park administration staff counted 29 fledged pelican chicks.

The threat to Ulcinj Salina is still very much alive

For many species of ducks and waterbirds the Ulcinj Salina represents one of the most important resting places on their route through the Mediterranean. The precious natural heritage of Ulcinj Salina is in danger of falling prey to the interests of developers of mass tourism.

Massacre of Europa’s migratory birds

Shot down, plucked and sold on the black market. This is the fate of the hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that fall victim to bird hunting in Serbia and Romania each year. In “The Massacre of Europe’s Songbirds”, an article for the American news magazine Newsweek, Luke Dale-Harris exposes the Mafioso background to this bird massacre.

Albania still a death trap for migrating birds?

Since March 2014 there has been an absolute ban on bird hunting in Albania. Officially. But in fact masses of migrating birds are still being shot by poachers. In his article “ Killing field for Migrating Birds“ in the online magazine „Yale Environment 360“ Phil Mc Kenna reports on the the situation he saw in Albania.

Mystery Adriatic Flyway

Only a few years ago, even among experts the Western Balkans was a blank area on the map of bird migrations. But today we know that millions of birds use this route twice a year to migrate between their breeding and their wintering grounds. The film “Adriatic Flyway” is vividly and impressively depicting, what threats the migratory birds are facing on their journey, why it is so important to preserve the valuable wetlands along the Eastern Adriatic as resting grounds for cranes, ferruginous ducks and others, and why there’s every reason for hope.

See the film on vimeo

Crime Scene Adriatic Coast

The protection of the migrating birds was the central focus of the Second Adriatic Flyway Conference which took place from 1st to 3rd October in Albania. More than 70 experts from 20 countries congregated for the conference in Durres.